Impatiens plant named ‘TiWhit’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct double-flowered  Impatiens walleriana  named ‘TiWhit’, producing white flowers that often show a light pink blush in temperatures warmer than 70° F. minimums; dark green foliage; medium vigor; fully double flowers held above or beyond the foliage on strong peduncles and pedicels; with a mounded growth habit.

Latin name of the genus and species and variety denomination: Impatienswalleriana plant and known by the cultivar name ‘TiWhit’.

BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar botanicallyknown as ‘Impatiens walleriana’ and by the cultivar name ‘TiWhit’, whichis shown in the photograph accompany this specification.

The cultivar was developed and selected in a controlled breeding programin a controlled environment in Broadbent, Oreg. by the inventors, HarlanCosner and Sue Cosner, as described herein. The plants may be used inlandscaping, window, and hanging baskets and flower gardens. The plantsare generally classed as an annual bedding plant.

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Impatiens. The photo shows the color as true as reasonably possibleto obtain in color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographmay differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately described the color of the newImpatiens.

BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The only known cultivar of relevant prior art is believed to be an‘Impatiens walleriana’ named ‘Tioga White,’ subject of U.S. Plant Pat.No. 10,345.

COMPARISON

The impatiens plant of the present invention differs from prior plants,namely ‘Tioga White’ in at least the following ways:

-   -   1. The flower color of ‘Tioga White’ is white and remains white        in warm weather. The flower color of TiWhit is white but often        takes on a pink tinge in warm weather.    -   2. The plant of ‘TiWhit’ is much larger than plant of Tioga        White.    -   3. The plant of ‘TiWhit’ is a double-flowered impatiens        differing from its pollen parent in both flower color and        fertility.    -   4. ‘TiWhit’ is a double-flowered impatiens with reproductive        organs replaced by sterile petaloids.

These and other distinguishing characteristics will be apparent topersons skilled in the art.

BACKGROUND—DISCOVERY AND PARENTAGE

The present cultivar was developed by standard cross-pollination. Thepollen producing parent was an unpatented double ‘Impatiens walleriana’designated M-BR-39, and the seed producing parent was an unpatentedsemi-double-flowered impatiens designated BR-D-1003. The seed parent'sflower color was white, and the pollen parent's flower color was a blushwhite.

The cross was made in the breeders' controlled breeding program atBroadbent, Oreg. The first asexual reproduction was also made atBroadbent, Oreg. Successive asexual generations produced from cuttingswith two or more leaves have shown the cultivar to be stable.

The cultivar is unique either in one or a combination of thecharacteristics described herein. It is a new, complete double-flowered‘Impatiens walleriana’ producing white flowers that often show a lightpink blush in temperatures warmer than 70° F. minimums; dark greenfoliage; medium vigor; fully double flowers held above or beyond thefoliage on strong peduncles and pedicels; and a mounded growth habit.

Color references are according to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significanceare used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description relates to the following environmental andcultural practices at Rogue River, Oreg., on or about Mar. 1, 2003.

The photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the cultivardescribed herein.

The photograph was taken of a TiWhit plant of about 10 weeks of age fromrooted cuttings, at first inflorescence. There may be variations betweenthe colors in the photograph and the colors in the following descriptiondue to light reflectance, or the amount of blue or red light captured inthe film. If such variations occur, the written description shallcontrol.

The plant of the present invention has not been observed in all possibleenvironmental and/or cultural conditions. The phenotype may varysignificantly with variations in environment such as temperature, lightlevel, humidity and also with cultural practices such as fertility,soil, and water quality.

Container—6-inch Azalea containers.

Medium—Peat-lite type of soil less medium.

Greenhouse covering—Double layer Polyethylene with 50% shade appliedabove the covering.

Minimum temperature—70° F.

Maximum temperature—75° F.

Light levels—1000 to 2000 ft candles.

Fertilizer—20-10-20 with trace elements applied twice followed by oneleaching with clear water.

Cutting type—Lateral stems with two or more leaves.

-   Propagation:    -   -   Type of cutting.—Lateral stems with two or more leaves were            used for asexual reproduction.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Generally about 7 to 10 days at soil            temperature of 72° F.-   Appearance and form of mature plant:    -   -   Plant form and habit.—Mounded and of medium vigor.        -   Plant size.—Plants mature at about 16 cm. in height and            about 30 cm. in width. Both of these measurements are a            function of age, environmental and cultural practices, and            can vary accordingly.        -   Rooting description.—The roots are fibrous and            well-branched.        -   Rooting ability.—Easy, no hormones needed.        -   Branching habit.—Plants are self-branching. Stems are strong            and freely produced. The number of stems depends upon            cultural practices, age of stems used as cuttings and the            number of growth buds present on the cutting when stuck.        -   Stems.—Stems are freely produced and no pinching to induce            branching is needed. Color is close to 144A. The stems at            maturity are generally at least 3 mm in diameter at the            internodes, and the internode length is generally at least            0.5 cm in length.        -   Foliage shape and size.—Shape is ovate with cuneate to            attenuate base; crenate margin, margin having tiny spines of            an undeterminable greenish color, each being a less than 1            mm in length, and protruding perpendicularly outwards from            the leaf edge in direction and parallel with the leaf            surfaces from between the lobes of the crenate margin; and            an acuminate apex. Size of largest is about 3 cm long; about            3 cm wide.        -   Foliage color.—Adaxial surface close to137A; abaxial surface            close to 147B; abaxial surface venation is close to 147B;            adaxial surface venation, main vein at base is closest to            144A, lateral veins are barely distinguishable but appear            closest to 137B.        -   Foliage texture.—Smooth and flat.        -   Petioles.—Petioles are about 2 cm long, half round, flat on            upper surface which is about 2.5 mm wide, depth of about            1 mm. Adaxial surface color appears to be between 146C and            146D but does easily not match any color in the chart;            abaxial surface color appears to be close to 146C to 146D.        -   Natural flowering season.—Year around in greenhouse            conditions, and the frost-free period from spring through            fall when planted outdoors. Flowers are produced            continuously throughout the flowering season.        -   Bud size, shape & color.—The buds prior to opening are about            1 cm in length; about 0.75 cm in diameter; shape is ovate.            Bud color prior to opening is close to 142 B on top and            close to 142C on bottom.        -   Time to flower.—Flowering begins at about 10 weeks form            rooted cuttings.        -   Duration of flower.—Each flower generally lasts about 5 days            at 75° F. maximum and 70° F. minimum temperature.        -   Flowers borne.—Above or beyond the foliage.        -   Flower count.—Usually two or more open flowers per stem.        -   Flower texture.—Smooth and satiny.        -   Flower fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower color.—Petals/petaloids — Adaxial surface is lighter            than 155D but may show a pinkish overtone in high            temperatures. Abaxial surface is lighter than 155D.        -   Flower size and shape.—Generally, at least 3.5 cm wide;            generally at least 1 cm deep. The above measurements refer            to the larger flowers, and the flower size was taken during            winter low light when the flowers are the smallest. During            spring and summer, the flowers are generally much larger            than the above measurements and as much as double the            described size.        -   Petal size and shape.—The largest petals are generally at            least 1 cm. wide and at least 1.5 cm. deep; obovate to            exaggerated obovate in shape with obtuse to retuse apex,            entire margin, and cuneate to obtuse base.        -   Petal count.—Generally about 25 or more.        -   Calyx.—Calyx consists of generally one sepal and one spur.            The spur is generally about 2 cm long, and about 2 mm in            diameter at sepal end; shape is an acicular tapering tube            about 1 mm in diameter at the sepal end, and it is attached            toward the base of the sepal in a peltate manner. Color is            close to 145A in color. The sepal generally measures about            0.75 cm wide, and about 1.25 cm long; ovate in shape with            anacute apex, entire margin, and obtuse to cordate base;            adaxial surface is lighter than 149D with a green spot close            to 142B where the spur connects; the abaxial surface is            lighter than 149D.        -   Peduncles.—Generally at least 1.75 cm long; about 2 mm in            diameter; colored close to 144A. Good strength.        -   Pedicels.—Generally two or more per peduncle. Each is            generally at least 1.75 cm in length, and at least 1 mm in            diameter. Color is close to 144B but tends to be between            144A and 144B. Good strength.        -   Reproductive organs.—The reproductive organs are replaced            with sterile petaloids.        -   Disease resistance.—Disease resistance has not been tested.        -   Dampness resistance.—The plant has shown a good ability to            hold the flowers in an outward manner during summer rains.        -   Cold/heat resistance.—Plant flowers well in summer heat.

CHART 1—COLOR CODE

-   -   -   Stems.—144A.        -   Foliage abaxial surface.—147B.        -   Foliage abaxial surface venation.—147B.        -   Foliage adaxial surface.—137A.        -   Foliage adaxial surface venation.—144A, 137B.        -   Petiole abaxial surface.—146C, 146D.        -   Petiole adaxial surface.—146C, 146D.        -   Petals/petaloids abaxial surface.—155D.        -   Petals/petaloids adaxial surface.—155D.        -   Bud top.—142B.        -   Bud bottom.—142C.        -   Peduncles.—144A.        -   Pedicels.—144A, 144B.        -   Sepals abaxial.—149D.        -   Sepals adaxial.—149D, 142B.        -   Spur.—145A.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of double-flowered Impatiens wallerianaplant named ‘TiWhit’, as illustrated and described herein.